You all might be aware how India failed to qualify for the Hockey Semi Finals in
the Olympics.

Ours was the last qualifying match. We either have to draw with Poland with a 2-2 or
more.. Or we have to win the game. We were leading 1-0 in the 69th minute (It is a
70 min game)..I was making my way out of the stadium because of a sell out crowd.
It was around 10.00 PM in the night and was raining heavily. NEVER ON EARTH I
THOUGHT THAT THE POLES WILL EQUALISE AT THE LAST MOMENT.

I would say that we lost due to lack of practise of playing in the rain. In India,
we could get the matches postponed if there is rain. Here, even school rugby games
and intra school games continue even if there is a thunderstorm.

But I should tell you some thing.. I saw all the teams that played in the Hockey
competition.. INDIANS WERE THE BEST.. It was really unfortunate that we could not
qualify.

In Sydney, we organised a small dinner for the Indian Hockey team. They felt very
happy. One of the players Thirumal Valavan told us that this is the first time they
were invited out.It is usually the crickets who get such invitations...

It was sad to know most of the guys in the team could not afford 3 good meals a day.

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